Record number of Welsh food businesses achieve top hygiene ratings

Seventy-one per cent of Welsh food businesses now have the top hygiene rating of 5 – a jump from 44 per cent from 10 years ago – making it the highest on record in Wales.

In 2013, Wales became the first country in the UK to make it a legal requirement to display hygiene rating stickers in prominent places, like front doors and windows of food businesses.

The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme has helped drive up hygiene standards in food businesses across Wales with 96 per cent of businesses now displaying a rating of ‘3’ or above.

Good hygiene ratings have proven to be good for business too - giving a competitive advantage to those showing that they take food hygiene seriously. Research by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has also shown that premises with higher ratings are less likely to have outbreaks of foodborne illnesses.

“Everyone in Wales deserves to enjoy their food, with full confidence that it has been prepared in a hygienic manner - the mandatory display of food hygiene ratings has done just that,” Lynne Neagle, Welsh deputy minister for mental health and wellbeing, said.

“Not only is it beneficial for consumers, but businesses too. And I'm delighted to see that the number of food businesses with a ‘5’ rating is the highest it’s ever been in Wales.

“I am thankful for the close and collaborative work of Welsh local authorities and the Food Standards Agency, in helping to implement the statutory Food Hygiene Rating Scheme over the last 10 years. The regular engagement with food businesses has been vital to the scheme’s success and helped in driving up food standards to where they are today.”

Professor Susan Jebb, chair of the FSA, said: “The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme is rightly celebrated as one of the most significant public health achievements of the 21st century.

“The striking black and green stickers on display at restaurants, cafes, supermarkets and online, are a simple and transparent way of giving people the reassurance that food is being prepared and served in a clean and hygienic way, and the business is meeting its legislative requirements for food hygiene.

“The scheme allows people to vote with their feet or by a click of a button and choose those businesses that take food hygiene seriously.”